Tony Herbert was fired from his mayoral aide position in 2025 after posting controversial comments about Charlie Kirk. (Theodore Parisienne for New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
In the first instance, Herbert allegedly accepted cash to help a security firm secure lucrative municipal contracts with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). In exchange for these bribes, officials said Herbert agreed to advise and pressure other city government officials to award the contracts. The indictment notes that these contracts included providing security services at NYCHA developments.
"As alleged, at a time when Anthony Herbert was serving as City Hall’s liaison to the City’s public housing residents, he engaged in blatant pay-to-play schemes to enrich himself," U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said.
In the second scheme, Herbert allegedly pressured city officials to approve payments to a funeral home director under a financial assistance program designed to cover burial services for low-income families. In exchange for steering payments, Herbert allegedly received "thousands of dollars in kickbacks" from the funeral home director.
"It’s alleged Anthony Herbert used his position in the NYC Mayor’s Office to create a side hustle of bribery and fraud," IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr. said in a statement. "He allegedly took advantage of his role to line his pockets by offering unfair advantages to certain businesses."
Charlie Kirk speaks at CPAC in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
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Herbert was fired from his City Hall post last year after making controversial remarks about the killing of Charlie Kirk.
In a Facebook post, he wrote, "You hit the nail right on the head or should I say racist!!" He later posted a video defending his comment, saying he did not regret it and adding, "Unfortunately, karma has come to collect."
Both the initial post and the response video were removed shortly afterward.
Bonny Chu is a Digital Production Assistant at Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ex-eric-adams-staffer-celebrated-charlie-kirk-assassination-pocketed-36k-bribery-fraud-cases-feds